Chapter 155: Black's Expectations

"Thank you, Harry! Thank you for saving me. James would be proud of you..." Peter Pettigrew gasped and opened his arms to support Harry's knees.

"Don't mention my father's name, you're not worthy of it," Harry said spitefully, and pulling Peter's hands away from him in disgust. "Let go of me. I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it for Sirius, I don't want him to become a murderer because of you!"

"Harry!" Black looked at Harry, without anger, and seemed calm for the first time.

Harry looked at him again. No one but Peter moved and no one made a sound. Pettigrew clutched his chest, gasping for breath.

"You're the only person who has the right to decide, Harry!" Black looked with great relief, as if looking at his old friend James, and slowly said, "But before you make a decision, I hope you'll think about it and carefully consider what he's done."

"I know, he did a lot of bad things that I will never forgive. He should pay for what he did, For that, we can hand him over to Dumbledore or the Dementors! He can go to Azkaban. If anyone deserves that place, it's him."

Peter, panting behind, hearing "Azkaban," and hearing "Dementors," his pale face was bloodless. He remembered that he had just spoken to Ivan in Lupin's office. The Dementors wouldn't let him go They would definitely give him the kiss!

That's the worst possible fate, worse than death.

From then on, his soul would be irretrievably lost. He would live in a corpse and would always be food for the Dementors in Azkaban.

'No, I can't let that happen!!!', Pettigrew had a glint of determination in his eyes. He couldn't allow himself to be captured and handed over to the Dementors. He had to run.

Twelve years ago, he paid a finger to escape Sirius Black; this time he had to escape too, whatever the price.

He touched Harry's robe and hesitated.

His eyes glanced at the open castle door. He had a great opportunity. Outside was the Forbidden Forest. It was very suitable for hiding in his animagus form. Besides, the Dementors weren't far away. They were stationed on the wall, and they didn't know Black was innocent.

If Black ever came out, they would catch him instantly, and even proceed directly to kiss him.

"I haven't lost yet. If I could just run out this door...", Pettigrew thought of the magical barrier that had just bounced him, like Ivan's wand not listening to his commands; he didn't understand what was going on. He was out of his depth, but he had to try again.

Maybe he could kidnap Harry to run away with him!

Maybe the barrier will only work when one person gets through. Maybe if someone was with him, they'd both get out.

Peter gripped Harry's robe tightly. He hesitated and didn't act immediately.

He was too close to Ivan and Black, and he wasn't entirely sure; if Harry struggled, if he didn't get his wand as soon as he tried, the consequences would be disastrous.

A moment later, Pettigrew saw Ron standing by the door. Ron's face was as pale as his own, full of pain and confusion.

Peter knew that Ron was trying to resist the Imperius Curse, but he had not yet broken free of its grip.

His eyes were fixed on the wand in Ron's hand. He needed that wand. It was his only hope.

As Pettigrew made up his mind, the conversation between Black and Harry continued.

"Do you know what it means to turn Peter in instead of killing him outright?" said Sirius.

"I know!" Harry said, "That means you're free!"

"Yes..." Blake hesitated and said, "I don't know if anyone told you, Harry, I'm your godfather."

"Ivan told me!" said Harry quietly.

"That boy knows everything. This time, I was able to catch Peter thanks to him. I really owe him too much I'll try to pay him back!" Black thought of the words Ivan had said to him yesterday at the Owl Post Office. He said sweetly, "But Harry! There's one thing I must tell you. I am your godfather. Your parents have assigned me to be your guardian if anything should happen to them..."

Ivan, Harry and Hermione hoped Black would go along. They all had a hunch what he was going to say.

Under his gaze, Black was hesitant. He never seemed so nervous.

"Think about it, Harry! Once my name is cleared...if you want a different house...you can...," Black looked at Harry. "I'll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle."

"What...live with you?" Harry looked at him closely and couldn't wait to say, "Leave the Dursleys?"

"Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to," Black said quickly. "I understand, I just thought that..."

"Are you mad?" said Harry, his voice as hoarse as Black's. "Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! Do you have a house? When can I move out?"

"You want to?", Sirius couldn't believe what Harry said. "Do you mean it?"

"Yes, I mean it!" Harry replied. "This is something I've always dreamed of."

When he heard Harry, Black's haggard face broke into the first real smile Ivan had ever seen on it. The difference was startling, as if a person ten years younger was glowing through a hungry mask.

It was all over. That was probably the best possible outcome for this year's event.

They caught little Peter and saved Black. In the summer vacations next year, Harry would be able to move in and live with Sirius. As for leaving the Dursleys and their effect on the blood protection given to Harry through his mother's sacrifice, that was something for Dumbledore to worry about.

Everything seemed to be perfectly settled, except that Ron still hadn't broken the Curse.

The conversation moved Ron a lot, but it didn't seem to be enough. It didn't help him strengthen his willpower enough to resist Peter's control.

Ivan sighed. If Ron doesn't succeed this time, it means that he could still be controlled by Voldemort or other dark wizards in the coming years and he had to be a bit more careful with Ron, this time being controlled by Peter is already a lesson! Once Ron has unusual behavior, he must act decisively.

Ivan's eyes turned to Ron, who was standing by, and he was ready to use a counter curse against him.

But he suddenly realized that Ron had imperceptibly walked imperceptibly from the corner where he was standing before to Peter Pettigrew's side.

In that position, he was like a human shield, completely blocking everyone's wands against Peter.

Ivan had a bad feeling, but had not yet reacted, when Peter Pettigrew, who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly stood up...